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Callahan Tunnel Now a Dangerous Ride

Thewall panels inside the Callahan Tunnel. After one of the 100 lb. panels fell into the road two weeks ago, MassDOT inspectors found 117 other loose panels in the tunnel that were in danger of falling.

If you are from Chelsea or East Boston you already know that the Callahan Tunnel that connects Eastie to rest of the city is not one of the most eye-appealing tunnels.

However, two weeks ago the tunnel went from an eyesore to dangerous.

A 100-pound wall panel in the tunnel fell off the wall of the tunnel and landed in the road. The panels, which date back to the 1990s, are 9 ft. by 4 ft. and replaced older panels in order to give the tunnel a better look and reflect light for improved visibility in the tunnel for motorists.

After the panel fell, MassDOT was forced to shut down the Callahan so inspectors could perform a ‘pull test’ on the some 2,000 panels that line the tunnel.

After the inspections it was found that 117 panels did not pass the pull test and had to be removed. MassDOT spokesman Frank DePaola said the framing holding the panels in place had corroded.

DePaola said inspectors took down every panel that showed some degree of looseness. The rest, DePaola said, where firmly secured and MassDOT was confident they would not fall onto the road in the Callahan.

The Callahan is up for an overhaul beginning this month. The overhaul of the tunnel will extend into April 2013. The project will cost between $10 million and $12 million.

The Callahan Tunnel is one of three tunnel that connect Eastie to Boston through routes under the Boston Harbor. The others being the Sumner and Ted Williams Tunnels. The tunnel was opened in 1961. It was named for the son of Turnpike chairman William F. Callahan, who was killed in Italy just days before the end of World War II. Operatic Tenor, William Flavin, of Milton Mass. sang the Star Spangled Banner and Oh Danny Boy at the opening of the Callahan Tunnel in 1961.

Historically, control signals were used to reverse direction of one lane in this tunnel or the Sumner Tunnel, when the opposite tunnel was closed for maintenance or emergencies. Under the relevant Turnpike regulations, a yellow signal light means, “proceed only as directed”. As the signals are almost always yellow, drivers have historically ignored this rule.

Other markings in the tunnel include a “double white line” in the center intended to discourage drivers from changing lanes, another rule that has been universally ignored.